Description:

This comprehensive, practical guide to soilless growing practices provides detailed information on how to design, set up, and operate hydroponic culture systems. Featuring 550 photographs, drawings, and tables, the seventh edition of this best-selling book has been extensively updated and expanded. The text describes the most successful growing cultures to use with specific crops and details media as well as hydroponic techniques. Chapters cover nutrient uptake and mixing as well as deficiencies and their symptoms, plant nutrition, nutrient solution, water culture, tropical hydroponics and special applications, plant culture, nutrient film technique, gravel culture, and more.

Transfer of Water and Solutes from Soil (or Nutrient Solution) to Root

Movement of Water and Minerals across Membranes

Upward Movement of Water and Nutrients

Plant Nutrition

Nutritional Disorders

Symptomatology

Use of a Key

References

Nutrient Solution

Inorganic Salts (Fertilizers)

Recommended Compounds for Complete Nutrient Solutions

Fertilizer Chemical Analyses

Fertilizer Impurities

Nutrient Formulations

Atomic and Molecular Weights

Calculations of Nutrient Formulations

Calculations for Chemical Substitutions for Fertilizers

Nutrient Formulation Adjustments

Nutrient Stock Solutions

Injector or Proportioner System

Stock Solutions

Preparing the Nutrient Solution

Preparing Normal Strength Solutions

Preparing Stock Solutions

Plant Relations and Cause of Nutrient Solution Changes

Nutrient Analysis

Plant Tissue Analysis

Changing of Solutions

Adjustment of Nutrient Solutions by Use of Electrical Conductivity

Maintenance of Solution Volume

References

The Medium

Medium Characteristics

Water Characteristics

Irrigation

Pumping of Nutrient Solution into Beds

Sterilization of Medium

References

Water Culture

Introduction

Raceway, Raft, or Floating System

Small and Medium-Sized Commercial Raft Systems

Large Commercial Raft Culture Systems

Aeroponics

Hydroponic Grass Units

Alfalfa and Bean Sprouts

Alfalfa Culture

Mung Bean Culture

Microgreens

References

Nutrient Film Technique

Introduction

Early NFT System

Later NFT Systems

Commercial NFT Systems

Nutrient Flow Technique: Vertical Pipes, A-Frame, or Cascade Systems

Gutter and Pipe NFT Channel Systems

Agri-Systems NET

Hortiplan Automated NFT System

Outdoor NET Watercress

Ebb-and-Flow (Flood) Systems

A-Frame NFT System

Summary

References

Gravel Culture

Introduction

Media Characteristics

Subirrigation Gravel Culture

Frequency of Irrigation

Speed of Pumping and Drainage

Effect of Irrigation Cycle on Plant Growth

Height of Irrigation

Nutrient Solution Temperature

Greenhouse Subirrigation System

Construction Materials

Beds

Plenum

Nutrient Tank

Trickle Irrigation Design

Advantages and Disadvantages of Trickle Irrigation

Sterilization of Gravel between Crops

Advantages and Disadvantages of Gravel Culture

References

Sand Culture

Introduction

Medium Characteristics

Structural Details

Beds with Plastic Liner

Greenhouse Floors Lined with Polyethylene

Drip (Trickle) Irrigation System

Planning a Drip Irrigation System

Watering

Sterilization of Sand Beds between Crops

Sand Culture of Herbs

Advantages and Disadvantages of Sand Culture

References

Sawdust Culture

Introduction

Growing Medium

Bed System

Bag System

Nutrient Solution Distribution System

Advantages and Disadvantages of Sawdust Culture

References

Rockwool Culture

Introduction

North American Greenhouse Vegetable Industry

World Greenhouse Vegetable Industry

Rockwool Composition

Rockwool Cubes and Blocks

Rockwool Slabs

Rockwool Layout

Irrigation System

Cucumbers in Rockwool

Tomatoes in Rockwool

Large Greenhouse Operations in North America

Harvesting, Grading, and Packing

Peppers in Rockwool

Recirculating Rockwool Systems

Advantages and Disadvantages of Rockwool Culture

References

Coco Coir Culture

Introduction

Source of Coco Coir

Coco Coir Grades and Characteristics

Coco Plugs and Blocks

Sustainable Agriculture Greenhouse Technology

Tomatoes in Coco Coir

Advantages and Disadvantages of Coco Coir Culture

References

Other Soilless Cultures

Introduction

Media

Peat

Vermiculite

Perlite

Pumice

Rice Hulls

Soilless Mixtures

The U.C. Mix

The Cornell "Peat-Lite" Mixes

Fertilizer, Sphagnum Peat Moss, and Vermiculite Mixture

Coco Coir

Hydroponic Herbs

Growing Herbs in a Peat-Lite Mix

Herbs in Rice Hulls

Foam Culture

Perlite Culture

Perlite Blocks and Slabs

Perlite Bato Buckets

Eggplants in Perlite Culture

Column Culture

Sack Culture

Sterilization of Medium

Advantages and Disadvantages of Peat and Coco Coir Mixtures

References

Tropical Hydroponics and Special Applications

Introduction

Hidroponias Venezolanas

Sand Culture in the Tropics

Ebb-and-Flood Water Culture of Watercress

Rice Hulls-Coco Coir Culture of Tomatoes, Peppers, and Cucumbers

Special Applications

Hydroponics and Resorts and Spas

Hydroponic Rooftop Greenhouses

Automated Vertical Hydroponic Systems

The Science Barge

References

Plant Culture

Introduction

Seeding

Seedling Production

Tomato Seedling Culture

Cucumber Seedling Culture

Pepper Seedling Culture

Eggplant Seedling Culture

Lettuce Seedling Culture

Herb Seedling Culture

Plant-Growing Temperature

Light

Relative Humidity and Vapor Pressure Deficit (VPD)

Carbon Dioxide Enrichment

Transplanting

Spacing

Vegetative versus Generative Growth

Irrigation (Fertigation)

Plant Support

Suckering and Training (Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Peppers, and Eggplants)

Pollination

Physiological Disorders

Diseases and Insects

Some Common Tomato Diseases

Some Common Cucumber Diseases

Insects

Vegetable Varieties

Tomatoes

Cucumbers

Peppers

Eggplants

Lettuce

Green Grafting

Planting Schedules

Crop Termination

Special Considerations

References

Horticultural, Hydroponic, and Soilless-Culture Societies

Greenhouse Production Resources

Research Extension Services for Publications

Some Soil and Plant-Tissue Testing Laboratories

Biological-Control Agents

Producers

Distributors

Sources of Information on Biological Control

Reference

Special Hydroponic Equipment

Units of Measurement-Conversion Factors

Physical Constants of Inorganic Compounds

Greenhouse and Hydroponic Suppliers

Biocontrol Agents

Microbials/Bioagents

Pollinators (Bombus sp.)

Greenhouse Structures, Coverings, and Equipment

Greenhouse Shading Materials

Growing Media and Supplies

Irrigation Equipment

Seeds

Sprout Supplies

Bibliography

Hydroponics

General

Publications

Articles

Nutrient Film Technique (NFT)

Publications

Articles

Insect and Disease Control

Professional Publications and Research Journals

Trade Magazines and Periodicals

Index

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